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Thursday, May 29, 2014

Two years later, Nina found herself taking an hour-long to a state-of-the-art corrections facility, one of the most secure in the nation and the only one to sit on a major highway. She arrived at one of the eight modules used to house prisoners and went through the usual security checkpoints. She was ushered into the visitors’ room. She took a seat and nervously awaited his arrival.

She was jolted from her thoughts when he walked into the visiting area. A slight man to begin with, he had aged, his head now completely grey. His face was gaunt, his cheeks sunken from massive weight loss. She bit down hard on her lips to stop the tears from forming. As she expected, he was less than pleased to see her.

“What are you doing here?”

She didn’t respond.

“If you’re looking for forgiveness, you’re in the wrong place. But the prison chapel isn’t too far from here.”

She finally found her voice. “Forgiveness for what?”

“Sending you own father to prison is unforgivable.”

“Then why did you do it?”

Sadness crept into his face, but it was quickly replaced by the familiar stubbornness and lack of empathy that had defined their relationship.

“I was a good daughter. You didn’t deserve me.”

Nina opened her pocketbook and took out her wallet. She removed a photo and pushed it across the table toward him. He glanced at it then looked back at her. He wanted to ask her something but was too proud.

“Grace and Faith Kasai. A year old today,” she explained.

“Why did you come to see me? You’ve destroyed what was left of my life.”

“No dad. You did that all on your own. All I wanted was a stinking apology, some acknowledgement that I wasn’t some piece of property you could use and dispose of when you felt like it. You weren’t sorry at all. I was living in a hell you sent me to. This was the only way I knew to get out. You had to answer to someone you couldn’t bully or buy off or manipulate.”

“I gave you everything.”

“You gave me the best of what money could buy. What I needed from you was priceless.”

Maybe she was right Phillip thought. There were some things his money couldn’t buy, like Constance Buckwell’s silence. The security he thought it would bring him failed to materialize and he had to take care of her himself by slipping something in her drink when they had dinner. That induced the heart attack that killed her. That should have been the end of his troubles combined with the diary he stole but it was all for naught. Now, he could honestly say it wasn’t worth it. None of it was.

“Congratulations on the twins Nina. I know you’ll make an outstanding mother. You’re excellent at everything you do. I have no doubt that will extend to motherhood.”

With that, Phillip Copeland signaled to be taken back to his cell.

As Nina made her way back to her car, she realized how lucky she was. A big, happy contented smile spread across her face. She had a life beyond anything she could have imagined. And this time, she knew she deserved it.

Boston executive Nina Kasai has been living a lie since her days as a student at Stanford University. But she’s about to learn that some secrets are too big to stay buried.

Years ago, Nina fled from her life of wealth and privilege and vowed never to look back. The horrifying truth has been locked away in her hidden diary, and in the mind of a disturbed woman who will never tell, ever. However, the perfect life she’s since created is about to come crashing down when Phillip Copeland –a ghost from her past with political ambition and secrets of his own, makes Nina an offer she can’t refuse: her silence in exchange for his.

Soon, it all goes horribly wrong when a shocking double-cross sends Nina reeling, and devastating loss threatens to push her over the edge. To make matters worse, her diary, the only link to her secret past has been stolen.

To reclaim her life and bring this twisted game to its stunning conclusion, Nina must confront the past she’s been running from, and find the courage to make a life-altering decision that leaves multiple casualties in its wake.